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F. L. GILMAN AND W. M. BAUM.

UNDERWATER MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1918.

1 ,32 1,302 Patented N 0v. 11, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET F. -L. GILMAN AND W. M. BAUM. UNDERWATER MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1918. 1,321,302. I Patented N0v.11,1919.

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F. L. GILMAN AND W. M. BAUM.

UNDERWATER MINING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 25, 1911:.

1,321,302. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

FRANKL GIL/1A N WILL/5 M BAUQ yydww z F. L. GILMAN AND W. M. BAUM.

UNDERWATER MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, I918.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

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UNDERWATER MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. \918.

1 ,32 1,802. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT cur os.

FRANK L. GILMAN AND WILLIS 1VI. BAUM, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; SAID Y GILMAN ASSIGNOR TQSAID BAUM. g i

i UNDERWATER-MINING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Patented NOV. 11, 1919..

Applicationfiled. February 25, 1918. Serial No. 219.043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK L. GILMAN and WVILLIs M. BA'UM, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underwater-Mining Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to mechanism for use for mining purposes in river beds, under swift flowing water, and the recovery of valuables from sunken wrecks and the obj ect thereof is to provide mechanism of this character which will be simple in construction and efficient in operation, and which can be easily and quickly transported from place to place as required.

Another object is to provide a device for the above purpose which is adapted for location and operation at any desired place of use.

A further object is to provide mechanism of the character described which is adapted for use in varying depths of water without alteration and which will be entirely selfcontained in that all operative parts and the like will be carried by the same.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and while we have shown and will describe our preferred form of ourinvention, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves to such preferred form but that various changes may be made both in the form and mode of operation, or either of them, without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We accomplish the above and Other objects by the mechanism described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof in which.

Figure 1 is atop plan of ourmvention complete ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 2, (man enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the gate operating means.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detall of one of our buckets.

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged details of our grappling device for lifting the buckets from the chutes.

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are enlarged details of operative parts of our machine.

In the drawings our invention comprises two barges 5 mounted parallel to each other but spaced apart the required distance and are tied together by floor boards 6 or other means a rectangular opening 7 being left centrally of the flooring- This flooring pro vides a platform 8 upon whichthe operating mechanism of the device is mounted. Extending upwardly from neareach corner of the rectangular opening 7 are pillars or standards 9, 10, 11 and 12, upon the upper end of which are mounted longitudinal cross pieces 13 and 14 and transverse cross pieces 15 and 16. Secured to the, sides of barges 5 a short distance from each end of the rectangular opening 7 are spaced pairs of vertically extending L-shaped guide rails 17. Mounted within the rectangular opening 7 is a'rectangular diving bell 18 whichv is of a size somewhat smaller than the rectangular opening 7 and is adapted to pass vertically therethrough. Near each end of the diving bell are rigidly" mounted vertically extending guide rails 19, T-shaped in cross section, the outwardly projecting flanges of which are positioned between the opposed flanges of each pair of rails v17 which form a guide way to confine the diving bell to a vertical path of movement. Mounted on platform-Sat one end thereof'is a gasolene engine or other motive force 20 which is connected by a belt 21 to a pulley 22 on shaft 23. Shaft 23 is mounted in bear-,

ings 24 and 25 extending upwardly from platform 8. An air compressor 26 is driven by a belt 27 and pulley 28 on shaft 23, and a storage tank 29 receives a supply of compressed air from thefcompressor. The diving' bell 18 isdivided intermediate its vertie cal length by a partition;30 which isair tighteinto a water compartment 31 and a working chamber 32, it being understood that the ends of these chambers 31 and 32 are open except that a latticed covering 33 is providedv for the top of the water cham-' ber. Extending upwardly from partitionv30 on the longitudinal. center thereof and equally spaced apart are two rectangular working chutes 34 and 35 which extend upwardly from said partition to a short distance above the top of water chamber 31 and are open at their upper. ends, a flange 36 being mounted thereon for. a purpose h after explained. Chutes 34 and 35 extend downwardly from partition to a short distance above the bottom of working chamber 32 and are closed at their lower ends. A door 37 is provided in the walls of chutes 34 and 35 to allow access to the interior of the chutes, suitable provision being made for rendering the doors airtight when the same are closed. Each of chutes 34 and 35 have provided in one wall immediately below partition 30, an enlarged portion 38 in which is mounted a door 39. A handle 40 provides means for operating said doors as hereafter explained, suitable means being provided to retain said doors in their locked positions. A bypass 41 is provided in each of the chutes to permit air to pass around doors 39 when desired and is operated by a valve 42. Extending from tank 29 is an outlet valve 43 which is connected by a flexible tube 44 to working chamber 32 to supply the desired air pressure to said chamber, valve 43 being the means controlling the amount of air supplied to said chamber. Mounted upon platform 8 is a pump 45 adapted to pump water from the stream upon which the device is being used into the water chamber 31 and a valve 46 extending through partition 30 provides means for emptying the tank of water when desired. Valve 46 is operated by a rod 47 which extends upwardly and terminates above the top of the diving bell 18. In one of the corners of diving bell 18 is provided a chute 48similar in all respects to chutes 34 and 35 excepting that the lower end is composed of glass or has glass windows therein and serves as a lookout chute from which the work being done on the interior of the working chamber may be inspected without entering the same. Mounted on shaft 23 are winding drums 49 and 50 which are controlled by the usual controlling means and around which are adapted to wind the hoisting cables 51 and 52. Cables 51 and 52 pass upwardly and over guidewheels 53 and 54 and then downwardly centrally of chutes 34 and 35 and are provided to raise and lower the buckets 55 as hereafter explained. Extending outwardly from each end of diving bell 18 centrally thereof and a short distance below the top, are handles 56 and 57 to which are secured one end of controlling cables 58 and 59. Cable 58 extends upwardly and over an idler pulley 60 mounted in bearings 61 and 62 mounted on transverse cross piece 16 and then downwardly and winds around winding drum 64 suitably mounted on the'platform. Cable 7 59 extends upwardly and around an idler pulley 65 mounted in bearings 66 and 67 secured upon the cross piece 15 and then passes over idler pulley 60 and and is wound upon drum 64. Drum 64 is controlled by the usual controlling means and serves to raise or lower the diving bell when desired relatively to the barges 5. A sluice box 68 is mounted upon the top of platform 8 and is used in the usual manner. Mounted in working chamber 32 a short distance from the bottom thereof are swinging shelves 69 mounted in suitable bearings secured to the walls of chamber 32 so that their free ends swing downward and their free ends are supported by chains 70 which chains are connected at one end to said shelves and have their other ends secured upon a pin 71 loosely. Pins 71 are mounted in a revolving shaft 72 mounted in bearings 73 on the wall of chamber 32. One end of shaft 72 has a handle 74 rigidly mounted thereon adapted to rotate said shaft when desired, and a lock 75 provides means for locking said handle against accidental movement. Mounted in chamber 31 at one end thereof is a compressed air lifting jack 76 the lower end of which is connected to chamber 32 through an opening 77 in partition 30 so that the lower end of piston rod 78 may project downwardly into said chamber 32 or for a purpose hereafter explained. Chute 48 is provided with a plurality of steps or foot holds by means of which the operator may descend to the bottom or climb to the top. Secured upon the free end of each of cables 51 and 52 is a grappling hook comprising a bifurcated member 79 between the arms of which is mounted the hook or grappling member 80. Member 80 is mounted centrally of its length to swing freely so that normally it will lie at right angles to member 79. A lanyard 81 has one one secured to one end of member 80 and its other end extends through the bifurcations of member 7 9 and then upwardly to a suitable point of use so thatcwhen lanyard 81 is pulled upwardly member 80 will be drawn to lie parallel with. member 7 9 and when lanyard 81 is released member 80 will resume its normal position.

It will be understood that suitable means may be provided if necessary or desirable is desired to raise the buckets.

Valves 84 and 85 are provided in the walls of the work chutes to permit the operator to equalize the air pressure therein, the inner valve being used when the workers are lowered down the chutes to enter the work chamber and the outer valve being used when removing material in the buckets. If desired a telephone system may be installed to permit communication with the working chamber while the device is in use.

In the operation of our device it will first be towed to the desired place of operation and anchored in any suitable manner. Water will then be pumped into the water chamber, drum 64 being first released, which forces the diving bell l8 downwardly until the bottom of the bell rests upon the bed of the stream, it being understood that, as the rails 19 are rigidly secured to said diving bell and travel therewith, as the diving bell be closed before lowering the bell. The workmen are then lowered by meansof cables 31 and 32 into chutes 34: and 35 doors 39 being opened until they are standing upon the bottom of the chutes. The cables are then withdrawn and the'door 39 closed. The doors 37 are then opened and the workmen step out into the working chamber. Doors 37 are then closed and doors 39 opened and the buckets 55 are lowered to rest upon the bottom'of the chutes. The

cables are withdrawn, doors 39 are closed, and doors 37 opened when the workmen are free to fill the buckets with material. After the buckets are filled doors 3'? are closed and doors 39 opened. The cable is lowered and the grappling member operated to en gage ring 83 and hoist the buckets to the surface where they are emptied into the sluice box and again lowered. This operation is repeated as desired.

Extensions are provided for water chamber 31 and the chutes'to be mounted upon the top thereof when it'is desired to use the machine at a greater depth than one sec tion will allow.

Having described our invention what we claim is:

1. In an underwater mining machine the combination with a float having vertically extending guideways, of a vertically movable diving bell carried thereby, a partition extending horizontally of said bell and forming two superposed chambers open at It will be understood. that the air tight doors 37 in the chutes will ,their opposite ends, the upperchamber being a ballast chamber and thelower chamber being a work chamber; means to supply water into said ballast chamber to force said bell downwardly; an outlet for said water ballast; a pair of vertically extending chutes opening at the bottom into the work chamber and opening at the top to atmosphere above the top of said ballast chamber; closures for the openingsat the bottom of said chutes; closures mounted within said chutes near the bottom thereof adapted to cut off the lower portions thereof from communication to atmosphere; guide rails carried by said bell engaging said guideways and having lower projecting ends whereby] when said bell is lowered saidfprojecting ends will be forced into the bed of the stream to anchor the device against movement.

2. In an underwater mining machine the combination with a float having vertically extending guideways, of a diving bell carried thereby; vertically extending guide rails carried by said bell and engaging said guideways to confine the same to a vertical movement only, the lower ends of said guide rails projecting below the bottom of said bell whereby when said bell is lowered said projecting ends willbe forced into the bed of the stream to anchor the device against movement.

3. In anunderwater mining machine the combination with a float having vertically extending guideways, of a vertically movable diving bell carried thereby and being divided intermediate its length into two superposed chambers, .the upper chamber being the bal last chamber and the lower chamber being the work chamber; means to supply water into said ballast chamber; an outlet for saidwater ballast; a pair of vertically extending chutes opening at the bottom into said work chamber and at the top to atmosphere; 010- sures for the openings in the lower ends of said chutes; means mounted within said chutes at the lower ends thereof adapted to cut off the lower portions thereof from com munication to atmosphere; a plurality of swinging shelves mounted on the interior walls of said workchamber; means to nor mally hold said shelves positioned horizontally; means to release said last means; and guide rails mounted on said diving bell having lower projecting ends whereby when said bell is lowered'said projecting ends will be forced into the bed of the stream. V

In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 11th day of February 1918.

FRANK L. GILMAN. WILLIS M. BAUM.

Gopies 0! this patent may be obtained ior five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

